Yankees reliever Luke Weaver — and since the end of the season, the team’s closer — struck out Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. in a dramatic eight-pitch battle. Facing a full count, Weaver threw a 96-mph fastball that appeared to be below the strike zone.

Witt went down a rabbit hole of Derek Jeter highlights, and the memories came rushing back. As much as anything or anyone else, it was the New York Yankees’ Hall of Fame shortstop who inspired Witt to start playing baseball as a kid.

George Brett, who spent his entire 21-year career with the Royals and is as identifiable with a single franchise as any living ballplayer, let loose an admiring sigh